CHANDIGARH, April 1: A blast outside the Punjab BJP headquarters in Chandigarh on Wednesday evening triggered panic, though no casualties were reported. Police said a “crude” device appeared to have been hurled at the party office around 5 pm.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was dispatched to investigate.
An unverified social media video showed two individuals, one allegedly throwing a grenade-like object while the other recorded the act, though their identities and the authenticity of the footage remain unconfirmed.
Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur described the device as a small crude explosive. Police, along with the crime branch, operation cell, and Central Forensic Laboratory teams, conducted a thorough inspection.
The blast caused minor damage to a scooter, shattered a car’s windowpanes, and left splinter marks on walls.
BJP officials confirmed that Ashwani Sharma, the state working president, had left for Delhi earlier in the day, narrowly avoiding potential harm.
BJP state chief Sunil Jakhar condemned the blast, linking it to previous grenade attacks on police stations and the vandalism of a Dr B.R. Ambedkar statue, alleging the Aam Aadmi Party failed to maintain law and order.
Senior leaders, including Amarinder Singh, R.P. Singh, and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, demanded a swift and thorough investigation.
They stressed the need for strict action, enhanced security, and safeguarding public safety.
The incident raises serious concerns about law and order, intelligence coordination, and communal harmony in Punjab and Chandigarh. (PTI)
